Your Disaster Plan

Developing Your Disaster Plan

Get Ready for Emergencies and Disasters

Where Will You or Your Family Be When an Emergency or Disaster Strikes? Emergencies
and disasters strike quickly and without warning and can force you to
evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you
do if basic services (water, gas, electricity or telephones) were cut
off?

Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after
a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. If disaster
strikes, you need to know how to take care of yourself and your family.
This self-reliance is important because local officials and relief
workers on the scene won’t be able to reach everyone right away. People
can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and with families working
together as a team. Preparing for a disaster or emergency is a
responsibility that begins with each individual. We can’t control all
the emergencies that will occur in our lives, but we can be ready to
face them by knowing what to do and taking action to prepare.

Two
things that will always help you in an emergency or disaster are clear
thinking and quick reactions. If you can stay calm in a crisis,you’ll be
better able to make the right decisions. Once you decide the best
action to take in a particular situation, do it! There’s no room for
hesitation in a disaster or emergency. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility!

Four Steps to Safety can help you create your disaster plan:*

STEP 1

Understand What Could Happen

STEP 2

Create an Emergency/Disaster Plan Evacuation Shelter in Place

STEP 3

The Preparedness Checklist: What You Need to Know

STEP 4

Maintain Your Plan

STEP 1: Understand What Could Happen

Look Around Where You Live

Emergencies
such as terrorism, fire, hazardous materials spills, power outages or
those caused by natural disasters such as tornadoes and winter storms
can happen anywhere to anyone. Even disasters such as hurricanes and
flash floods can affect most regions of the state. Look around where you
live. Are you near a highway that could have a hazardous materials
spill? Are you in a flood zone? Ask yourself what emergencies or
disasters could occur in your area.

Find Out About Community Disaster Plans

Find
out about the disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school
or daycare center, your community and other places where you or your
family spend time.

If a Disaster or Emergency Strikes

There
can be significant numbers of casualties/damage to buildings and the
infrastructure. Employers need up-to-date information about your medical
needs and on how to contact your family.

Health and mental health resources in the affected communities can be strained to their limits, even overwhelmed.

Extensive media coverage, strong public fear and international implications can continue for a prolonged period.

Workplaces and schools may be closed, and domestic and international travel may be restricted.

You and your family or household may have to evacuate an area, avoiding roads blocked for your safety.

Cleanup may take many months.

If
a chemical or biological emergency occurs, you can be exposed to the
toxins by inhaling them, swallowing contaminated food, water or
medication, or by touching or coming in contact with contaminated items.
You may be told by authorities to evacuate to a designated location or
be asked to shelter in your home, sealing all windows and doors and
turning off air intake.

STEP 2: Create an Emergency/Disaster Plan

Meet with Your Family

Discuss
the types of disasters and emergencies that are most likely to happen
and what to do in each case. Explain the dangers to children and plan to
share the responsibilities, working as a team. If you have in-home
childcare, include the caregiver in your plan. A Personal Action Plan is
an important part of this process because it gives you a chance to
think through what you would do in a real event. The plan includes
information such as your local Emergency Alert System radio or
television station, Evacuation Assembly Centers in your area, emergency
phone numbers and pet care arrangements. The information should be
posted on your refrigerator or in some other prominent spot as well as
included in your disaster kit.

Determine Where to Meet In Case of Emergency

A place right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.

A location outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

Make
wallet cards, so everyone will know the address and phone number of the
place where you are to meet. For older children, select a “safe house”
in areas they frequent until it is safe to meet.

Have an “Out-of-Town” Contact

Ask
an out-of-town friend or relative to be your contact. After a disaster,
it’s often easier to call long distance. Other family members should
call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know the
contact’s phone number, and cell phone number if they have one. Note: If
telephones are not working, try e-mail. Sometimes e-mail gets through
when calls cannot. Be aware that cell phones are often overloaded during
and immediately after an emergency, so it is important to know “land
line” phone numbers as well.

Have an Emergency Plan for the Mobility-Impaired

Keep
support items in the same place, so they can always be found quickly.
For those who have home-health caregivers, particularly for those who
are bed-bound, it is essential to have an alternate plan if
the home-health caregiver cannot make it to you.

What to Do if an Emergency/Disaster Strikes

If the disaster occurs near you, be prepared to give first aid and get help for seriously injured people.

If
the emergency occurs while you are at home, check for damage using a
flashlight. Do not light matches or candles or turn on electrical
switches.

Check for fires, electrical and other household
hazards. Be aware that spilled bleaches, gasoline and other liquids may
produce deadly fumes when chemicals mix, or be a fire hazard. Get advice
from the local fire department on how to clean up spilled liquids,
especially if there are noxious fumes.

Sniff for gas leaks,
starting at the water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn
off the main gas valve, open windows and get everyone outside quickly.

Shut off any other damaged utilities. Know in advance how to shut off all utility valves and the electricity.

Make
plans for your pets if you need to evacuate. Do not leave them outside.
If you do not need to evacuate, confine or secure your pets (they’re
frightened, too, and may run away or bite someone).

Check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled.

Call your family contact – do not use the telephone again unless it is a life-threatening emergency.

If Children are in School During a Disaster or Emergency

Check
the local media for announcements about changes in school openings and
closings. Parents can always pick up their children during the school
day, but sometimes the safest place might be the school itself. For
older children who self-transport, ask them to follow the instructions
of authorities.

Look to Your Neighbors

Working
with neighbors can save lives and property. Know your neighbors’ skills
(i.e., medical, technical) and consider how you can help neighbors with
special needs, such as disabled or elderly persons. Make plans for
childcare in case parents can’t get home.

KNOW WHAT TO DO IN AN EVACUATION

Listen to your battery-powered radio and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.

Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.

Take your Disaster Supplies Kit. You will put this together in Step 3 below.

Listen
to your battery-powered radio or car radio and use travel routes
specified by local authorities – don’t use shortcuts because certain
areas may be impassable or dangerous.

If you do not own a
vehicle or drive, learn in advance what your community’s arrangements
are for transporting people during an evacuation.

Local officials may ask residents to shelter-in-place
during a chemical or hazardous materials emergency. This means you must
remain in your home or office and protect yourself there.

Lock
all windows and exterior doors and close vents and fireplace dampers.
Turn off all fans and heating and air conditioning systems.

Get your disaster supplies kit and make sure the battery-powered radio is working.

Go
to an interior room without windows that is above ground level. Some
chemicals are heavier than air and may seep into basements.

Using duct tape, seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room. Include spaces around pipes.

Listen to the radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.

Have an Emergency Plan for Your Pets

Due
to health regulations, animals are not allowed inside emergency
shelters. Make arrangements for your pets, either securing them in your
home or transporting them to a safe place.

STEP 3: The Preparedness Checklist – What You Need to Know

Emergency Numbers

Post
emergency numbers by all your phones (fire, police, ambulance, your
physician, etc.). Teach your children how to call these numbers and when
it is appropriate to do so. Include emergency numbers for water/sewer,
electricity, gas and the National Poison Control Center, 1-800-222-1222.

Utilities

Know
how and when to turn off water, gas and electricity at the main
switches or valves and share this information with each family member.
Keep any tools you will need near gas and water shut off
valves. Remember, turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines
are damaged or if you are instructed to do so. Do not turn off gas
unless you suspect a leak or local officials advise to do so. If you
turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on. It
might take several weeks for a professional to respond. In the meantime,
you may be unable to heat your home, make hot water or cook.

Fire Extinguisher

Be sure everyone knows how to use your fire extinguishers (ABC type), and where they are kept.

Smoke Alarms

Install
smoke alarms on each level of your home, especially near the bedrooms.
Follow local codes and manufacturer’s instructions about installation
requirements. Test monthly.

Escape Routes and Safe Spots

Determine
the best escape routes out of your home. Find two ways out of each
room. Also, find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster.
(For example, if a tornado approaches, go to the lowest floor of your
home or an interior room or closet with no windows.)

If Electrical Power is Lost

Check to see if neighbors have power. If they are also without service, call your local power company.

Use
a flashlight or battery-operated lantern. Do not use candles for
emergency lighting. Candles and kerosene lanterns are fire hazards.

Turn off all major appliances. They could overload electric lines when power is restored, causing a second outage.

Keep
refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food can be
kept cold for a day or two if the doors are kept closed.

Use
portable generators cautiously. Make sure they are outside in a
well-ventilated area. Refuel a generator only after it has cooled.

In
cold weather, drain pumps, supply lines, water heaters and boilers –
these can freeze when the power is lost. So can traps in drains of tubs,
sinks, commodes, washing machines and dishwashers. In order to avoid
burst pipes, close the main water valve and open the spigots and supply
lines and drain them.

In advance, provide your power company
with a list of all life support equipment required by family members.
Develop a contingency plan that includes an alternate power source for
the equipment or relocating the person.

First Aid/CPR

Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR class as a family.

Inventory Home Possessions

Make
a visual or written record of your possessions to help you claim losses
in the event of damage. Include photographs of cars, boats and
recreational vehicles. Get professional appraisals of
jewelry, collectibles, artwork or other items that may be difficult to
evaluate. Also, photograph the exterior of your home. Include the
landscaping that may not be insurable, but does increase the value of
your property for tax purposes. Make copies of receipts and canceled
checks for valuable items.

Stock Emergency Supplies and Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

Keep
enough supplies in your home to meet your needs and those of each
family member for three to five days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit
with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in
sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffel bags or
covered trash containers.

Three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil. Include a manual can opener.

One change of clothing and footwear and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.

A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescriptions and medications. Include contacts or an extra pair of glasses.

Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlights and plenty of extra batteries.

An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash (small denominations) or traveler’s checks.

Important
family documents in a waterproof container. Keep the originals of all
important financial and family documents in a safe place. You will need
accessible records for tax and insurance purposes.

Insurance Coverage

Check
if you have adequate insurance coverage. Homeowners insurance does not
cover floods and some other major disasters. If you are in an area that
can flood, talk with your insurance agent about getting flood insurance.

STEP 4: Maintain Your Plan

Quiz

Review your plan every six months and quiz your family about what to do.

Drill

Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills on a regular basis.

Restock

Check food supplies for expiration dates and discard, or replace stored water and food every six months.

Test

Read
the indicator on your fire extinguisher(s) and have it/them recharged
by a professional according to manufacturer’s instructions. Also, test
your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.